A Closer Look at Fastnet Rock

Tara Madgwick - Thursday May 14

The ability to consistently sire Group I winners is the key attribute that sets a legendary sire apart from his peers and Fastnet Rock has that attribute in spades.

Fastnet Rock has been a phenomenal source of G1 winners! Coolmore’s champion sire Fastnet Rock is one of the few Australian bred stallions to achieve high levels of success in both hemispheres, his overall tally of 157 stakes-winners including 39 from his years of service in Ireland.

For the purposes of this story we will just look at his Australian conceived progeny that have excelled over all distances and jurisdictions making Fastnet Rock a phenomenal success both on the track and in the sale ring.

As a proven sire of sires, he has also enjoyed elite success with no fewer than six of his sire sons producing Group I winners led by Hinchinbrook, Foxwedge and Smart Missile, with his champion son Merchant Navy poised to write the next chapter in this part of the Fastnet Rock story.

Turning 19 this year, Fastnet Rock has done all that could be asked of a stallion and his fee this spring of $165,000 is value in the context of his exceptional record.

Fastnet Rock as had at least one Group I winner in every foal crop he has produced and in the case of his game changing third crop, he produced an astonishing six!

His current season two year-olds hold great promise for their classic season and include Group I placed colt Glenfiddich and Group I placed filly Personal, both looming as Guineas type contenders for the future.
 

Crop Year (SH)

Mares Covered / Service Fee

Stakes-Winners/ Best Performers

2006

208/ $55,000

13 SW’s / G1 Wanted, Irish Lights, Rock Classic

2007

194/ $55,000

8 SW’s / G1 Lone Rock

2008

257 / $55,000

13 SW’s / G1 Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen, Foxwedge, Sea Siren, Planet Rock, Rock ‘n’ Pop

2009

251 / $82,500

16 SW’s / G1 Super Cool, Nechita, Driefontein, Albany Reunion, Your Song

2010

273/ $60,500

15 SW’s / G1 Atlante

2011

188 / $137,500

11 SW’s / G1 First Seal, Amicus, Awesome Rock, Magicool

2012

224 / $132,000

8 SW’s / G1 Dreamforce

2013

208 / $220,000

11 SW’s / G1 Comin’ Through, Heroic Valour

2014

212 / $275,000

11 SW’s / G1 Shoals, Merchant Navy, Unforgotten, Catchy, Age of Fire

2015

189 / FOA

5 SW’s / G1 Avantage

2016

206 / FOA

5 SW’s / G1 Prince Fawaz, Sherwood Forest

2017

149/ FOA

2 SW’s / Rathlin, Unition

2018

163 / FOA

Yearlings

2019

119 / FOA

Foals

2020

98/ $165,000

Yet to be born


Click here for a Closer Look at Snitzel.
Click here for a Closer Look at Pierro.
Click here for a Closer Look at Exceed and Excel.
 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday February 1
Here is the full list of 53 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hidrix Breeder Speechless After $1.7mColt Wins on Debut
The $1.7m Easter colt Hidrix (Extreme Choice) surged into Golden Slipper contention with a dominant debut victory in today’s G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.
Another Staying Star for St Jean?
It turns out Caufield and Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours was not the only promising stayer by the ill-fated sire St Jean (IRE) sold as part of the Halo Racing Unreserved Reduction on Inglis Digital in November 2024. 
Ciaron Maher Stayer Ready for G3 Wellington Cup
Expat Australian hoop Matt Cartwright is looking forward to teaming up with his old boss at Trentham on Saturday when he rides Interpretation in the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m).
Torryburn Stud Out To Continue Outstanding Classic Success
As the highest prizemoney earning Australian-bred still in training, six-time G1 winner Voyage Bubble is a graduate of the Inglis Classic yearling sale, having topped the 2020 sale when knocked down to Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu for $380,000m when offered by the Cornish’s Torryburn Stud. In 2026, the team presents a quaility draft of seven yearlings, four fillies and three colts.
Oaks Plan for Ocean Park Filly
A long-range plan for Crimson Sky continues to gain momentum and another encouraging performance at Trentham will confirm a crack at the end goal of the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
Wrote Mare Turns Back the Clock for Second G3 Bellmaine
Seven-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki landed her second Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) three years after her first, with a strong front-running success under Dean Yendall at Caulfield on Saturday.
Black Type for Home Affairs Blueblood Filly
The Group III MRC Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday for colts and fillies produced a dominant winner in Big Sky with blueblood filly La Gitana a gallant third on debut.
G1 Australian Guineas Aim for Flying Artie Colt
Flying Artie always looked to have a strong three year-old crop to run for him this season and leading the charge is talented colt Sixties, who is his highest priced yearling ever sold and comes from a family very much on the up.
G3 JRA Plate Goes To Willaidow
Having been a great money earner for connections, the Marc and Mitchell Conners trained Shamus Award gelding Willaidow recorded consecutive wins in the Group 3 sprint, taking out this year’s $250,000 ATC G3 JRA Plate (1200m) at Rosehill.